In less than a week, UConn’s Zach Frazer has gone from starting quarterback to the team’s third option.

JOE PEREZ

STORRS — In less than a week, UConn’s Zach Frazer has gone from starting quarterback to the team’s third option.

Coach Randy Edsall said that Cody Endres, who replaced Frazer midway through Saturday’s win over Buffalo, and redshirt freshman Mike Box give the Huskies the best chance to win heading into this weekend's game with Vanderbilt (noon, SNY, WTIC-1080 AM).

The decision, according to Edsall, “comes down to productivity.” Endres returned from a monthlong suspension to complete 7 of 11 passes for 139 yards and a touchdown in one half against Buffalo.

Edsall met with all three on Sunday and explained the new pecking order. Frazer wasn’t happy with the direction the team is going, but was told to be ready in case his number is called.

“It’s things that you see in practice and what you feel is going to be best for your team,” Edsall said of the decision.

That Box has moved ahead of Frazer, who was under center for the Huskies’ season-ending four-game winning streak a year ago, says much more about Frazer.

Box has thrown just five passes in his career, completing two. Citing Box’s accuracy, Edsall said he’s progressed to where he’s ahead of Frazer. It was just two weeks ago that Edsall expressed concerns over Box’s down and distance management.

Despite Frazer having 13 starts to his credit including a bowl game, it seems the coaching staff believes Box has improved dramatically over a short period of time.

Whatever he is doing in practice has the coaching staff’s attention, but it also leads to a bigger question about Frazer. Has the up-and-down career of the one-time Notre Dame recruit finally hit its end?

The flip-flopping at the position that’s followed both Frazer and Endres at UConn may have become too much to bear.

“It’s been weird,” Endres said of Frazer’s new status. “I haven’t really got a chance to talk to him too much or see him around much. He’s probably handling the best way he can. ... I’m sure he’s not happy about it.”

As the leader of the quarterbacks, Endres tries to lead by example, but said the others at the position don’t have to be told what to do in order to prepare. Endres acknowledged the support goes only so far because at the end of the day, it’s about who gets to play on Saturday.

More changes

Quarterback wasn’t the only position where there were changes to the depth chart. The combination of Scott Lutrus’ “upper extremity” injury and the poor play of Greg Lloyd, Jr., caused Lawrence Wilson to be moved from weakside linebacker to middle linebacker. Sio Moore, the Big East’s Defensive Player of the Week, slid into the spot vacated by Wilson. Jerome Williams, who was arrested Tuesday morning after a physical altercation with kicker Dave Teggart, is Moore’s backup.

Mike Lang has supplanted Kijuan Dabney at free safety and Gary Wilburn passed freshman Gilbert Stlouis as one of two backup corners.

On offense, Erik Kuraczea, who was suspended for a month along with Endres, will start at left guard over Matthieu Olivier.